Accra, Nov. 12, GNA — The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Tuesday received cash donations to award individuals and media organisations in two new
categories, at its 24th Awards Night, which will climax its 70th Anniversary.
The family of the Reverend Dr G.T. Anim, the first Ghanaian General Manager of the Ghana News Agency, offered GHC9,000.00 to reward Ethical Journalism; while AO Alliance, with the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, gave $10,000 to honour the devotion to reporting the Plight of Injured Children.
Dr Koryoe Anim-Wright, the daughter of Rev. Dr Anim, who made the presentation, said when their father turned 90 in May this year, the family decided to set up an award category to honour him as an individual, his work and the
Journalism profession.
The Category would be named the “Dr G.T. Anim Award for Ethical Journalism.”
She said even in the era of modern journalism where many journalists wrote on biased bases and political lines, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) still maintained its vision to disseminate truthful, unbiased information.
Dr Anim-Wright explained that because of their father’s role in the Agency, they deemed it fit that the maiden award would go to a long serving journalist at GNA who embodied the qualities of truth and unbiased reporting.
In subsequent years, the awards could also go to
other media houses.
For his part, Dr Wilfred Labi Addo, the Representative of AO Alliance (English speaking Africa), said the $10,000 would serve as seed money for awards for; the “Best Radio”, “Best Television” and “Best Print” media houses, which had championed the awareness on injuries in children so that politicians and other stakeholders would take the necessary steps to salvage the situation.
He said children were the most affected when it came to injuries because they did not create any income and so were heavily dependent on their families.
“In our culture, when children get into trouble, it’s only when we have the spare coins that we consider what to do with them. Children receive the least attention whenever they run into trouble,” he said.
Statistics, he said, showed that 50 per cent of citizens were under 20 years and that 20 per cent of all injuries, as well as 25 per cent of all fatalities that resulted from injuries affected children.
Dr Addo said due to these major problems faced in Africa, the Organisation decided to partner with the College of Physicians and Surgeons to set up and fund a project called the “Paediatric Fracture Solutions for Africa” to highlight the need to project the problems children faced when they got injured.
He said due to the mandate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons to train surgeons, physicians and other allied staff to take care of patients, it was appropriate to allow the College manage the project.
The Alliance was established to provide resources to train and equip institutions in managing injured people, especially children.
Mrs Linda Asante Agyei, the Vice President; and Ms Mary Mensah, Public Affairs Officer, of the GJA, who respectively received the donations, lauded the partners for their goodwill and support towards media development and professionalism and a better society.
The Awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 23.
